Process and apparatus for scaling hot metal objects



PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR scALING HOT METAL OBJECTS Feb. 5, 1946.

M, s. EVANS ET AL Filed Dec. 3, 1942 lillli. .III

INVENTORS w W, WM .wm r.z wm

BY M momma Patented Feb. 5,- 194s PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SCALING HOT METAL OBJECTS' Morris S. Evans, Bualo, N. Y., and Emil C. Stolberg, Glen Ridge, N. J., asslgnors to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 3, 1942, Serial No. 467,694 3 Claims. (01.429-81) This invention relates to the process and apparatus for removing scale from hot metal objects and particularly from billets, blooms and rods or bars. In the past various mechanical devices such as vibrators, Scrapers, etc., have been used to remove scale from hot metal objects being worked but such devices were not fully satisfactory and seldom could rapidly remove the scale from all parts of the object. The use of air jets has also been tried but these can remove only the very loose scale and can in no way touch the scale that adheres quite rmly to the object. In some portions, particularly deep draws and shell making,l

itis absolutely necessary that the scale be almost completely removed from the hot blank` before the drawing, piercing or pressing operation. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a process for completely removing the scale from all sides of the blank prior to a pressing, drawing or piercing peration.

A further objectof the invention is the provision of a hot metal descaling apparatus utilizing high pressure water jets so directed as to cause rapid shrinkage of the scale and a lifting of the scale from the hot metal blank.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus using high pressurev water jets projected toward the hot metal blank in a plurality of directions in order that the scale may be cracked and lifted from the blank.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study porting the rollers are spaced apart to provide a space 4 through ,which the -scale from the billet may be washed. The brackets and rollers preferably form a part of the conveying system between the furnace and the machine which will opcrate on the hot billet or blank.

As clearly shown, the descaling apparatus consists of a hood having substantially vertical sides B merging into upwardly inclined' top portions 8 which meet substantially directly above the opening 4 between the rollersupporting brackets. As shown, the hood is preferably made of a single piece of metal bent to the proper contour but may be made of a plurality of pieces if so desired. In order to stifen the housing and more fully prevent the escape of spray end plates ID are welded or otherwise attached to the housing and cut to of the following description and ,accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view of the apparatus and taken substantially on line l-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus with parts broken away to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the apparatus with some parts broken away and others in section to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the hood or housing, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of one of the descaling pipes.

Referring now to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the hot metal object, in this case a short billet B indicated by line and dash, is moved through the descaling apparatus upon rollers R. The rollers as shown are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees and have their axles mounted in bearings carried by brackets 2, thus the rollers enclose an angle of 90 degrees permitting the billet to be supported and centered by the rollers for movement through the apparatus. lThe brackets supunion an opening 30 is provided in lthe housing a contour permitting attachment to the brackets and passage of the hot metal blank. Steam formed by contact of the water jets with the hot metal blank can escape from the housing at the 1 bottom and ends and at the top through a short pipe or stack l2. The sides of the housing have attached thereto on their inner sides angle clipsA I4 by means of which the housing can be riveted or otherwise secured as at t6 to the roller supporting brackets previously .referred to. 'Iov one side of the housing, angle shaped plates I8 are attached and these plates are provided with openings to receive a pipe or manifold 20. This pipe or manifold is and at the other end is connected to a heavy pipe 24 which in turn is connected to a high pressure water source. otherwise attached thereto short nipples 26 and unions 28. Directly opposite each nipple and and these openings will permit the passage of pipes 32. The inner ends of pipes 32 have welded or otherwise secured thereto pipes 34 conforming in general to the cross sectional outline of the hot metal blank which is to be descaled. In the present instance, since the blank is a short section of a billet, the pipes 3 4 are bent to define a hollow square. As 4clearly shown in the gures, and particularly Fig.. 5, the inner portions of the pipes 34 are provided with a plurality of rows of holes 38,

A one row 38 is arranged substantially in the plane,

of the pipe loop, while other rows 40 and 42 are arranged on either side thereof and directed at predetermined diverging angles with respect to the plane of the loop. In other words, the water or other fluidy issuing from the holes. 38 of each pipe 34 will form curtains dening, in the present case, two pyramids having a common base and The manifold 20 haswelded or g -38 directed perpendicular to thesides.

v of directions.

bythe jets issuing from holes 38, while the four sides of one pyramid will be dened by the Jets issuing from holes 40 and the four sides of the other pyramidby the jets issuing from holes 42. Considering each pipe loop separately, it will be seen that as the billet approaches the loop the approaching end will be subjected rst to the concentrated jets issuing from holes 36 of row 40. As the billet progresses the iets together with the mids of decreasing heights. In other words, the jets Will in effect move o'utwardly from the center of the billet toward the edges-while being directed at a constant ang1e to the omet end. As

angle toward the rear of the billet as it progresses through the apparatus. 'I'hen as the billet progresses the sides will-be subjected to the' jets of row Immediately following this the .jets of row 42 will strike the sides of the billet and, as clearly shown, these jets are directed at a predetermined angle toward l the sides of the billet and in the direction of travel of the billet, assuming, of course, that the billet is *traveling from the right toward the left of the gures as shown. As the billet starts to leave the zone of-one loop 34, the rear end will first be subjected to' the wiping curtain formed by the jets of row 38, followed by the angular action of the jets of row 423s theyI convergetoward the center of the billet during its progress past the apparatus.

It will thus be seen that each end of the billet must move through a pyramid deilned by high pressure jets, thereby subjecting' everyportion of the ends to a plurality of jets acting in a plurality Each side of the billet is likewise subjected to a plurality of jets acting in a plurality of directions, thus it becomes almost imwith, the vertices directed away from each other ,A and located substantially on the center line of p the hot metal blank. That is. the common base of Athe pyramids will be dene'd by the curtain formed billet end will define. a series of truncatedpyramately 1400 lbs. per square inch pressure. High velocity water jets acting in their multieangular directions, coupled with the rapid shrinkage of the billet surface, effectively remove all scale from the sides and ends of the billet or hot metal blank. .Any scale that might be tight on all edges to ordinary descaling devices would be torn loose duetothe violent surface shrinkage and flushingaction of the multi-direction high pressure jets. 'In other words, the jets serve the double function of chilling the billet surface to 'crack scale and lift it from the parent metal. Furthermore, the chilling and flushing action is aided by the explosive action of steam generated through the forcingof water' particles under the scale at extremely high velocities. 'As shown in the present instance, the

billet moves past three sets of pipes but this number is purely illustrative as is also the example of possible for any particle of scale to be so attached to the billet surface as to prevent its being lifted from the surfaceby one of the angular jets; that is, a particle of scale might have its forward edge tight and jets-from rows 40 and 38 might not be` s grees Fahrenheit were passed through the apparaline of the blank.

tus with the ,iets formed by water u nder approxitemperatures and iiuid pressures. It is to be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of parts other than those shown and described may be made and all such modifications and rearrangements 'ofparts are contemplated as will fall Within the scope of the appended claims defining our invention. 4

What is claimed is:v

l. A process for removing scale from hot metal blanks, consisting in establishing curtains formed lby high velocity iiuid jets directed to inclose opposed pyramidal areas having a common base, and rapidly passing the hot metal'blanks through said areas whereby the scale and metal surface onlyis chilled and subjected to the scouring action of the high velocity jets.

2. A process for removing scale from a hot metal blank, consisting in establishing a plurality of high velocity fluid jets directed at a plurality of angles to leach surface of the blank and in the direction of travel of the hot metal 'blank and rapidly passing the hot metal blank through the jets blank, a hood inclosing part of the conveyer, pipes within thehood and conformingapproximately to the cross-sectional'contour of the blank, means supplying high pressure fluid to said pipes, and holes formed in said pipes and directed toward each surface of the blank as it moves through thehood, said holes being so arranged as to vdirect high velocity jets of uid inclosing opposed pyramidal areas having a common base and vertices located substantially on the longitudinal center MORRIS s. EVANS. EMIL c. s'roLBERG. 

